Hot water supply and fire hydrant system

ABSTRACT

A hot water supply and fire hydrant system includes a plurality of heat-absorber plates ( 11 ) arranged on the whole area of the roof of a building in a sloping position for absorbing the radiating energy of the sun, a plurality of collector tubes ( 12 ) formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient and respectively mounted on the heat-absorber plates ( 11 ) for transferring heat energy from the heat-absorber plates to water flowing through the collector tubes, and a plurality of pipe connectors ( 15 ) respectively connected to the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes ( 12 ) for guiding water in and out of the collector tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hot water supply system and more particularly, to a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which fuilly utilizes the roof space of a building to support a solar collector unit and, which can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier.

2. Description of the Related Art

In tropical or subtropical countries, people may install a solar-collector system in the roof of the house to absorb the radiating energy of the sun for heating water for industrial or home use. A conventional solar-collector system is made of special materials system and has a complicated structure, resulting in a high cost. Because the high cost, conventional solar-collector systems are not popularly accepted.

Further, many private houses, public buildings or factory buildings use corrugated metal (galvanized) sheet members to construct the roof. Because metal sheet members provide a high heat absorbing effect, using metal sheet members to make the roof of a building cannot isolate the inside space of the building from the radiating heat of the sun. People working in this building during a hot day are very uncomfortable. It is practical to utilize the corrugated metal roof sheets of a building to absorb the radiating energy of the sun for heating water, saving much solar collector installation cost and preventing radiation of thermal energy into the inside space of the building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which fully utilizes the roof space of a building to support a solar collector unit for heating cold water to a hot status for service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which has a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier.

To achieve these objects of the present invention, the hot water supply and fire hydrant system comprises a plurality of heat-absorber plates arranged on the roof of a building in a sloping position, a plurality of collector tubes formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient and respectively mounted on the heat-absorber plates, each collector tube having a top end and a bottom end disposed at different elevations, and a plurality of pipe connectors respectively connected to the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes for guiding water in and out of the collector tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hot water supply and fire hydrant system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side plain view of the hot water supply and fire hydrant system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in an enlarged scale along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing foam material stuffed in the solar collector unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing an alternate form of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing another alternate form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a hot water supply and fire hydrant system in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a solar collector unit 10 fixedly mounted on a light steel framework 20 on the roof of a building. The solar collector unit 10 fits the double-bevel configuration of the light steel framework 20. A water reservoir pipe 50 is mounted in the peak of the light steel framework 20. Two accumulation pipes 40 are mounted in the peak of the light steel framework 20 at two sides of the water reservoir pipe 50. Two water delivery pipes 30 arranged in parallel at the two lowest opposite sides of the double-bevel configuration of the light steel framework 20.

The solar collector unit 10 is comprised of a plurality of flat heat-absorber plates 11 and a plurality of collector tubes 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat-absorber plates 11 are laid to overlap one another and fixedly fastened to the light steel framework 20 with screws 13. The heat-absorber plates 11 are metal plates, for example, painted iron sheet members. The collector tubes 12 are metal tubes, having a high heat transfer coefficient. Preferably, the collector tubes 12 are copper tubes or aluminum tubes. Connectors 15 are used to connect the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes 12 to the accumulation pipes 40 and the water delivery pipes 30 respectively.

The water delivery pipes 30 each have one end respectively connected to a water intake pipe 31, which has a one-way control valve 32 installed therein. Guide tubes 41 are respectively connected between the accumulation pipes 40 and the water reservoir pipe 50. The water reservoir pipe 50 has one end connected to a water tank 60 through a water outlet pipe 51. The water tank 60 is provided with a relief valve 61. A first float bowl switch 62 and a second float bowl switch 63 are provided inside the water tank 60 at different elevations. The water tank 60 has a main supply pipe 64 and a connecting pipe 66 connected to the bottom side thereof. The main supply pipe 64 is connected to water taps (not shown) at different locations inside the house. The connecting pipe 66 is connected to the water intake pipe 31 behind the one-way control valve 32. An electric heater 65 is connected to the main supply pipe 66.

When in use, cold water is delivered from the water intake pipe 31 to the water delivery pipes 30 and then the collector tubes 12 of the solar-collector unit 10. The heat-absorber plates 11 of the solar-collector unit 10 absorb the radiating energy of the sun to heat water in the collector tubes 12, allowing heated water to flow from the collector tubes 12 to the accumulation pipes 40 through connectors 15. When the temperature of water in the accumulation pipes 40 reached a predetermined level, a respective temperature-controlled valve 42 is opened for letting hot water to flow out of the accumulation pipes 40 into the water reservoir pipe 50, and then to flow from the water reservoir pipe 50 through the water outlet pipe 51 to the water tank 60. At this time, the user can obtain hot water from each terminal water tap that is connected to the main supply pipe 64. If the temperature of the supplied water is low due to bad weather, the user can operate the electric heater 65 to heat water to the desired temperature level.

Further, when the water level in the water tank 60 surpassed the elevation of the first float bowl valve 62, the first float bowl valve 62 is driven to switch off the one-way control valve 32, stopping cold water from passing into water intake pipe 31. At this time, water passes out of the water tank 60 through the connecting pipe 66 into the water intake pipe 31 for circulation through the solar collector unit 10. When the water level in the water tank 60 dropped below the elevation of the second float bowl valve 63, the second float bowl valve 63 is driven to switch on the on-way control valve 32 for enabling cold water to enter the water intake pipe 31 for circulation through the solar collector unit 10 to keep the water in the water tank at a certain level.

Further, a cover plate 52 may be covered over the accumulation pipes 40 and the water reservoir pipe 50. Further, foam material 80 may be used to surround the connector tubes 12, keeping the connector tubes 12 warm.

Further, water sprayers 70 may be mounted in the house and connected to the connector tubes 12 at different locations and electrically coupled to the temperature sensors or smoke sensors of the fire system of the house so that the hot water supply and fire hydrant system can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the solar collector unit 10 uses roof tile-shaped heat-absorber plates 72 to substitute for the aforesaid flat heat-absorber plates 11.

FIG. 6 shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat-absorber plates 11 are covered over the rood of the house as well as the vertical peripheral walls 74 and 76 of the house.

As described above, the invention provides a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which has the following advantages:

1. High economic effect: The invention uses the roof structure of the house to support the hot water supply and fire hydrant system, saving much installation cost and obtaining a great solar energy collecting area. Comparing to conventional solar-collector systems, the hot water supply and fire hydrant system of the present invention is less expensive and can collect the radiating energy of the sun more efficiently. The invention is practical for use in the roof of any of a variety of buildings, providing a high economic effect.

2. High effect of hot water supply: The invention uses the radiating energy of the sun to heat water, keeping reserved water above a certain temperature level and providing hot water to satisfy daily requirement.

3. High effect of heat isolation: Because the solar collector unit absorbs the radiating energy of the sun and converts the radiating energy into thermal energy in water in the collector tubes and because obtained hot water is stored in the water tank inside the house, the temperature inside the house is maintained in a comfortable level.

4. Fire hydrant Function: The invention has water sprayers directly connected to the collector tubes and electrically coupled to the fire sensors or smoke sensors of the fire hydrant system of the house, the user needs not to arrange additional water pipes in the house for the fire hydrant system.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A hot water supply and fire hydrant system comprising: a plurality of heat-absorber plates arranged on the roof of a building in a sloping position; a plurality of collector tubes respectively mounted on said heat-absorber plates, said collector tubes being formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient, said collector tubes each having a top end and a bottom end disposed at different elevations; and a plurality of pipe connectors respectively connected to the top and bottom ends of said collector tubes for guiding water in and out of said collector tubes.
 2. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an accumulation pipe respectively connected to the pipe connectors at the top ends of said collector tubes; a water reservoir pipe; a guide tube connected between said accumulation pipe and said water reservoir pipe; a temperature-controlled valve installed in said guide tube and adapted for enabling water to flow from said accumulation pipe to said water reservoir pipe through said guide tube when the temperature of water in said accumulation pipe reaches a predetermined level; a water outlet pipe connected to said water reservoir pipe; a water tank connected to one end of said water outlet pipe remote from said water reservoir pipe for receiving water from said water reservoir pipe; a relief valve installed in said water tank for releasing pressure when the inside pressure of said water tank surpassed a predetermined level; a main supply pipe extending from a bottom side of said water tank for guiding hot water out of said water tank; a water intake pipe; a connecting pipe connected between said water intake pipe and said water tank; and an one-way control valve installed in the water intake pipe at an upstream of the connection area of said water intake pipe and said connecting pipe.
 3. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an electric heater installed in said main supply pipe for heating water passing out of said water tank through said main supply pipe.
 4. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a water delivery pipe; wherein the pipe connectors at the bottom ends of said collector tubes are respectively connected to said water delivery pipe and the water intake pipe is connected an end of said water delivery pipe.
 5. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collector tubes are copper tubes.
 6. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of water sprayers respectively connected to said collector tubes, and fire sensors adapted to open said water sprayers upon a fire.
 7. The hot water supply and fire hydrant system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-absorber plates have the shape of a roof tile.
 8. A hot water supply and fire hydrant system comprising: a plurality of first heat-absorber plates arranged on the roof of a building in a sloping position; a plurality of second heat-absorber plates arranged on vertical peripheral walls of the building on which said first heat-absorber plates are mounted; a plurality of collector tubes respectively mounted on said first heat-absorber plates and said second heat-absorber plates, said collector tubes being formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient; and a plurality of pipe connectors respectively connected to top and bottom ends of said collector tubes for guiding water in and out of said collector tubes. 